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Controversies on Endangered Species.
The term endangered species is use to describe an animal that is at risk of going extinct. A million years ago, planet earth was not as it is now. There was a wider forest cover that provided habitat to various animals. According to scientific research, dragons once roamed on earth but now they are extinct creatures. There is a list of animals that have now been classified as the endangered species. If a question is posed on whether more should be done to save the endangered species, many are going to say yes. However, we seem not to understand that it is the human action and activities that is contributing to the extinction of these animals. This paper will look in what it actually costs to protect the endangered species and how actions taken in preservation of species tend to have adverse effects on humans.
The question that constantly lingers on my mind as I think about endangered species is if there is any benefit that comes in protecting an animal species that is actually dying out. With a balance in ecosystem both in the animal human world, the scientists have often stated that it helps in purifying their environment. However, this may equally not be true, in the purification of air that we breath, the plants help in that and I probably would advocate for planting of more trees as well as preserving the forest as compared to animals. In a research conducted in 2012, approximately $76 billion was used in the preservation of only land endangered species meaning if marine animals were to be added to the list the numbers would be higher. In a world where we see 100 of children dying due to lack of basic commodities like food and water, I do feel that the money that was pumped in helping endangered species should have been used in saving humanity instead (Brockington, pg. 411-432).
It is at times quite hard to understand why we are championing for preservation of animals like wolves which cause harm to humans as well as the livestock. In a world where some environmental conservationist would argue there needs to be a balance, I feel that we would be better off without some animals. As humans, we are living in an era where there are so much technological advances and in order for a country to develop, they have to ensure they build infrastructure including roads, railways and exploit their natural resources including mining. However, conservationist is always against such things. In Kenya, for example, while they were building their Standard Gauge Railway, there was a lot of uproar that it will pass in the park and cause disruption of the animal life. But how about the time that was cut as it used to be 10-15 hours by road and now it will only take 4hrs and 30 minutes. Although it is true the railway may have caused disruption of wildlife, business will definitely improve in Kenya leading to a rise in economic power.
Position of preserving animals and endangered species seems too often come from a position of both privilege and luxury. Conservationist in the western world who are often moneyed are biggest advocators of preserving species including lions and tigers. But a rural villager in India will list the number of times they have suffered attacks from these animals (Marshall). There are children who do not have limbs because of a lion attack that happened while herding cattle. This child too does not have money to pay for his fees as well as cater for his medical needs, yet there is money being donated to protect the animal that did attack him. If you ask the amount these victims get as compensation from attacks, it is so little when compared to what is given in the preservation of these animals.
Endangered species and its extinction can also be seen as a natural selection process. In evolution, natural selection plays a big role in ensuring only the fit or organisms that can adapt to the harsh environment get to reproduce passing their best traits to their offspring’s. Humans have played a big role in evolution and in some instances, they are the cruel and unforgiving environment such other species need to evolve in order to survive. One such evolution that has been witnessed is on the elephants losing their tasks. Poaching for years has been a threat to wildlife and most hunt down elephants for their tasks as they are worth so much. However recently more elephants are being born without tasks especially in Africa. Scientists have noted that there is a generation of elephants being born with no or small tasks (Steenkamp, pg. 75-80). As more female are often tuskless, they get to survive and live for long compared to their male counterparts, and they end up reproducing tuskless offspring. This means, without even pumps being pumped into saving endangered species like elephants, they are finding a way to survive and we should let natural selection take its course.
I believe extinction of animals is a natural process. For example, dinosaurs became extinct even before natural human activities such as building roads and buildings begun. Some of these animals are dangerous and attack humans despite the fact that we blame humans for encroaching the animal corridor. We may agree on taking measures to plant more trees and plants as a way of preserving the environment, but in matters of extinction, let the natural process take its cause
Works CitedBrockington, Dan. “Community conservation, inequality and injustice: Myths of power in protected area management.” Conservation and society 2.2 (2004): 411-432.
Marshall, Michael. “Earth – What Is the Point of Saving Endangered Species?” BBC, BBC, 14 July 2015, www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150715-why-save-an-endangered-species.
Steenkamp, G., S.M. Ferreira, and M.N. Bester. Tusklessness and tusk fractures in free-ranging African savanna elephants (Loxodonta Africana). J. S. Afr. Vet. Assoc. 78: 2007. 75-80.
